Iron golf club

Abstract

The iron golf club head ( 20 ) of the present invention is preferably composed of three main components: a periphery member 22 , a central member 24 and a face plate 26 . The periphery member ( 22 ) is preferably composed of a high density material such as a nickel-tungsten alloy. The central member ( 24 ) is preferably composed of a lightweight, non-metal material. The face plate ( 26 ) is preferably composed of a titanium alloy material. The iron golf club head ( 20 ) preferably has high moments of inertia Izz and Ixx.

1. An iron golf club head comprising:
 a periphery member composed of a first metal material, the periphery member having a sole wall, a toe wall extending upward from the sole wall at a first end of the sole wall, a hosel extending upward from the sole wall at a second end of the sole wall, and a heel wall extending upward from the sole wall;  
 a central member coupled to the periphery member, the central member being composed of a non-metal material and having a body portion with a forward surface, a rear surface, a sole surface, a top surface, a toe surface, and a heel surface, the central member having a cavity formed in the rear surface of the body portion; and  
 a face plate composed of a second metal material, the second metal material having a lower density than the first metal material, the face plate being coupled to the periphery member and disposed over the forward surface of the central member.  
 
   
   
     2. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the periphery member further includes a top wall extending from an upper end of the toe wall to an upper end of the heel wall. 
   
   
     3. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the first metal material has a density between 8 g/cm 3  and 12 g/cm 3 . 
   
   
     4. The iron golf club head according to  claim 3 , wherein the first metal material comprises a nickel-tungsten alloy including at least approximately 50 weight percent nickel and at least approximately 20 weight percent tungsten. 
   
   
     5. The iron golf club head according to  claim 4 , wherein the nickel-tungsten alloy further includes at least 20 weight percent chromium. 
   
   
     6. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the second metal material comprises a titanium alloy. 
   
   
     7. The iron golf club head according to  claim 6 , wherein the face plate has a thickness ranging from 0.040 inch to 0.250 inch. 
   
   
     8. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the central member is composed of a bulk molding compound. 
   
   
     9. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the central member is composed of a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
     10. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the central member further includes a flange extending from the top surface at an intersection of the top surface and the forward surface, and wherein a top line of the face plate is in contact with the flange of the central member. 
   
   
     11. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the club head has a moment of inertia Ixx through the center of gravity of at least 2600 g-cm 2  and a moment of inertia Izz through the center of gravity of at least 2400 g-cm 2 . 
   
   
     12. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1  wherein the periphery member has a volume percentage of the golf club head ranging from 15% to 50%, and a mass percentage of the golf club head ranging from 50% to 80%. 
   
   
     13. The iron golf club head according to  claim 1  wherein the central member has a volume percentage of the golf club head ranging from 25% to 75%, and a mass percentage of the golf club head ranging from 10% to 30%. 
   
   
     14. An iron golf club head comprising:
 a periphery member composed of a first metal material having a density between 8 g/cm 3  and 12 g/cm 3 , the periphery member having a sole wall, a toe wall extending upward from the sole wall at a first end of the sole wall, a hosel extending upward from the sole wall at a second end of the sole wall, a heel wall extending upward from the sole wall, and a top wall extending from an upper end of the toe wall to an upper end of the heel wall, the top, sole, heel and toe walls of the periphery member defining an opening;  
 a central member disposed in the opening of the periphery member, the central member being composed of a non-metal material and having a body portion with a forward surface, a rear surface, a sole surface, a top surface, a toe surface, and a heel surface, the central member having a cavity formed in the rear surface of the body portion; and  
 a face plate composed of a second metal material, the second metal material having a lower density than the first metal material, the face plate being mounted in the opening of the periphery member and disposed over the forward surface of the central member, the face plate having a thickness between 0.040 inch and 0.250 inch.  
 
   
   
     15. The iron golf club head according to  claim 14 , wherein the first metal material comprises a nickel-tungsten alloy including at least approximately 50 weight percent nickel and at least approximately 20 weight percent tungsten. 
   
   
     16. The iron golf club head according to  claim 15 , wherein the nickel-tungsten alloy further includes at least 20 weight percent chromium. 
   
   
     17. The iron golf club head according to  claim 14 , wherein the second metal material comprises a titanium alloy. 
   
   
     18. The iron golf club head according to  claim 14 , wherein the club head has a moment of inertia Ixx through the center of gravity of at least 2600 g-cm 2  and a moment of inertia Izz through the center of gravity of at least 2400 g-cm 2 . 
   
   
     19. An iron golf club head comprising:
 a periphery member composed of a nickel-tungsten alloy having a density between 9 g/cm 3  and 10.5 g/cm 3 , the periphery member having a sole wall, a toe wall extending upward from the sole wall at a first end of the sole wall, a hosel extending upward from the sole wall at a second end of the sole wall, a heel wall extending upward from the sole wall, and a top wall extending from an upper end of the toe wall to an upper end of the heel wall, the top, sole, heel and toe walls of the periphery member defining an opening;  
 a central member disposed in the opening of the periphery member, the central member being composed of a non-metal material and having a body portion with a forward surface, a rear surface, a sole surface, a top surface, a toe surface, and a heel surface, the central member having a cavity formed in the rear surface of the body portion; and  
 a face plate composed of a titanium alloy, the face plate being mounted in the opening of the periphery member and disposed over the forward surface of the central member, the face plate having a thickness between 0.040 inch and 0.250 inch.  
 
   
   
     20. The iron golf club head according to  claim 19 , wherein the club head has a moment of inertia Izz through the center of gravity of at least 2400 g-cm 2  and a moment of inertia Ixx through the center of gravity of at least 2600 g-cm 2 .